“Being present is the greatest gift you can give to others; it shows them that they truly matter.” Deepak Chopra

Leadership, whether in a managerial, business, or coaching context, is a multifaceted skill that requires being truly present. Being present means engaging with your team, your business, and the moment at hand with your full capacity—body, mind, spirit, and emotions. It’s about connecting with your environment and the people within it. In this article, we explore the concept of being present in leadership, its benefits, and how coaching plays a pivotal role in cultivating this essential skill.

Leadership, in all its forms, requires coordination, understanding, and the ability to deliver results. Being in a leadership position means not only working with people but also within a business context. Being present, or truly engaged in the moment, is essential for effective leadership. It involves listening actively, empathizing, and connecting with the environment and individuals in it.

What is Being Present in Leadership?

Being present in leadership means being fully engaged with your team and the business context. This skill empowers leaders to identify opportunities, understand the future of their business, assess risks, and connect deeply with the people they work with. Being present demands training, self-awareness, and a focus on the present moment. It’s about actively listening, empathizing, and acknowledging your thoughts and emotions without attachment.

💡 Benefits of Being Present in Leadership

The advantages of leaders being present in their interactions with their team members or employees are numerous:

• Enhanced Communication: Leaders who are present listen actively, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts.
• Improved Decision-Making: Presence leads to better-informed decisions and well-thought-out choices.
• Boosted Employee Engagement: Employees feel valued and motivated when their leaders are present.
• Increased Trust and Credibility: Leaders gain the trust and confidence of their teams through their presence.
• Strengthened Relationships: Being present fosters stronger interpersonal connections, resulting in loyalty and teamwork.
• Better Problem Solving: Presence aids in identifying and addressing issues effectively.
• Reduced Stress and Burnout: Leaders can recognize and address stress and burnout signs, creating a healthier work environment.
• Personal Growth: Being present encourages self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and self-regulation.
• Enhanced Creativity: Leaders inspire creativity and innovation when they actively participate in discussions.
• Increased Productivity: Presence leads to more focused and productive meetings, benefiting overall team productivity.
• Positive Organizational Culture: Prioritizing presence sets a tone for an inclusive and supportive organizational culture.
• Talent Retention: Present leaders retain top talent by recognizing and valuing employee contributions.

Coaching and Leadership

💡 How does coaching relate to leadership development?

Coaching plays a significant role in leadership development. Leadership isn’t solely about acquiring new knowledge; it’s about refining and enhancing existing skills. Leaders need to cultivate resilience, time management, presence, empathy, support, trust, and self-trust. Coaching is the ideal tool for this purpose.

💡 What role does coaching play in helping leaders become more present?

Coaching is pivotal in helping leaders become more present not only in their professional roles but in all aspects of their lives. Through coaching, leaders can develop self-awareness, emotional intelligence, time management, and various other skills that contribute to presence in the moment. As leaders become more present in their lives, they naturally bring this quality into their work and interactions.

Ways Coaching Enhances the Skill of Being Present

Coaching employs various techniques and strategies to help leaders become more present:

• Mindfulness Training: Coaches introduce leaders to mindfulness practices like meditation to increase self-awareness and focus.
• Active Listening Skills: Coaches teach leaders active listening techniques such as paraphrasing and clarifying to show genuine engagement in conversations.
• Emotional Intelligence Development: Coaches work with leaders to enhance their emotional intelligence, fostering empathy and deeper understanding.
• Time Management and Prioritization: Coaches help leaders manage their time effectively to reduce distractions.
• Conflict Resolution Skills: Coaching equips leaders with techniques for productive conflict resolution.
• Feedback and Feedforward Practices: Coaches guide leaders in providing constructive feedback and future-focused feedback (feedforward).
• Questioning and Socratic Dialogue: Coaches employ Socratic questioning to help leaders explore their thoughts and values.
• Visualization and Goal Setting: Coaches assist leaders in setting clear goals and visualizing desired outcomes.
• Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques: Coaches help leaders identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns.
• Role-Playing and Simulations: Coaches use role-playing to help leaders practice staying present in challenging scenarios.
• Accountability and Reflection: Coaches encourage regular self-reflection and self-assessment.
• Personal Values Assessment: Coaches guide leaders in identifying core values and aligning actions with them.

Case Studies or Examples

🌟 Sundar Pichai – CEO of Google and Alphabet Inc.

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and Alphabet Inc., exemplifies a leader who has benefited from coaching to become more present. He embraced coaching to enhance his leadership skills. With the help of his coach, Pichai developed mindfulness and emotional intelligence, enabling him to be more present and empathetic in his interactions with employees. His coaching also encouraged him to practice daily meditation and mindfulness exercises, which improved stress management and decision-making. The result was a more inclusive and innovative work culture at Google.

🌟 Mary Barra – CEO of General Motors (GM)

Mary Barra, the CEO of General Motors (GM), sought coaching to address the challenges of leading a large and complex organization. Coaching enabled her to become more present and responsive to her team’s needs. Her coach worked with her to develop active listening skills, emotional intelligence, and time management. This increased her presence, employee morale, and engagement. Her ability to connect with her team on a personal level also contributed to smoother communication and decision-making within GM.

Obstacles and Challenges

Leaders often encounter several challenges when trying to be more present in their roles. Coaching is instrumental in addressing these challenges:

• Distractions and Multitasking: Coaches help leaders minimize distractions and manage time effectively.
• Stress and Overwhelm: Coaching provides stress management techniques and emotional resilience.
• Lack of Self-Awareness: Coaches facilitate self-awareness exercises to recognize triggers, biases, and emotional responses.
• Poor Communication Habits: Coaching addresses communication habits, teaching active listening and breaking unproductive behaviors.
• Lack of Empathy: Coaches guide leaders in developing emotional intelligence and empathy.
• Resistance to Change: Coaches help leaders overcome resistance to change by highlighting the benefits and setting manageable, incremental goals.
• Accountability: Coaches establish accountability measures to maintain a more present and empathetic leadership style.

💡 The Power of Being Present in Leadership

In a world filled with distractions, cultivating the power to be present in your life is invaluable. This applies to leadership, work, and every aspect of your life. Being present fosters understanding, effective communication, and trust, creating a positive organizational culture. It’s a skill that can set you apart as a leader, enabling you to make better decisions, develop stronger relationships, and inspire those around you.

If you want to dig more into perfecting you presence skills let’s talk. Schedule a free discovery call to meet me and get one hour of free coaching.